Shed design
20-Cow Dairy Farm Shed Design
A layout for a 20-cow commercial unit: an 18 m covered standing area, larger calf pen, two calving pens, feed store and an open paddock of about 176 m².
20 cows need about 70 m² of roofed space, 140 m² of open yard and 12–15 m of manger. This plan fits that, plus calves and calving space, on a 28 m × 12.75 m plot.
What is in the plan
| Area | Size | Standard it meets |
|---|---|---|
| Cow standing area (covered) | 18 m × 4 m = 72 m² (manger excluded) | 3.5 m² per cow × 20 = 70 m² |
| Manger along back wall | 18 m | 60–75 cm per cow (90 cm given) |
| Calf pen (covered) | 4 m × 4.75 m = 19 m² | 8 young calves × 1 m² + 4 older × 2 m² = 16 m² |
| Calving pens (covered) | 2 × (3 m × 4.75 m) | 12 m² each, about 1 per 10 cows |
| Open paddock | 22 m × 8 m = 176 m² | 140 m² cows + 32 m² calves = 172 m² |
| Water trough | 2 m | 6–7.5 m per 100 adults = 1.20–1.50 m |
| Feed and fodder store | 3 m × 4 m | Dry storage for concentrate and fodder |
Building tips for 20 cows
- At 20 cows, hand milking takes a lot of labour; plan a separate milking area or space for a milking machine next to the shed.
- Add a concrete manure pit or biogas plant at the drain end; 20 cows produce a large amount of dung every day.
- Make the feed alley wide enough for a trolley or small tractor so one person can feed the whole herd.
- Use two water points so lower-ranking cows can drink without being pushed away.
- Group cows by stage: milking cows near the milking area, dry cows and heifers further away.
Other herd sizes: 5-cow design · 10-cow design. For buffaloes, bulls or a mixed herd, use the dairy shed size calculator.
Questions farmers ask
How big should a shed for 20 cows be?
About 70 m² of covered area and 140 m² of open yard for the cows alone. With calves, calving pens and a feed store, this layout uses a plot of 28 m × 12.75 m (357 m², about 3,843 ft²).
How much manger length do 20 cows need?
12 to 15 m, at 60–75 cm per cow. This plan gives 18 m (90 cm per cow), so all cows can eat at once.
How much land do I need for a 20-cow dairy farm?
The required plot includes the covered area, calf pens, calving pens and open yard; use the dimensions shown in this plan. Add space for a milking area, manure storage, a silage pit and access roads. Land for growing fodder is separate and much larger.
Sources
- TNAU Agritech Portal, Floor space requirements for dairy animals
- ICAR floor space table (via Agridots lesson)
- Teagasc, Calf and calving facilities farm survey
Last reviewed 2026-10-10.
This plan is a planning guide, not a construction drawing. Ask a local builder or engineer to check the roof, posts and foundations for your soil, wind and rainfall.